A decade of conflict, Syrians paid heavy price - ICRC

KUALA LUMPUR: As the crisis in Syria moves into its second decade, a survey commissioned by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted the heavy price paid by young Syrians.

The survey covered a total of 1,400 Syrians between the ages of 18 to 25 who were living in Syria, Lebanon and Germany.

In a statement from Geneva on Wednesday, ICRC stated that across the three countries, young people spoke of families and friendships torn apart, immense economic hardship and worry, frustrated ambitions, missed milestones, and the profound psychological toll of years of relentless violence and disruption.

"This has been a decade of savage loss for all Syrians. For young people in particular, the last ten years have been marked by loss of loved ones, loss of opportunities and loss of control over their future.

"The survey is a sombre snapshot of a generation who lost their adolescence and young adulthood to the conflict," said ICRC's Geneva-based director-general Robert Mardini.

According to ICRC, 47 per cent of the young Syrians surveyed said a close relative or friend had been killed in the conflict, while 16 per cent said at least one of their parents was killed or seriously injured.

The survey also indicated that 54 per cent of them had lost contact with a close relative, 62 per cent reported having to leave their homes either within Syria or abroad, and 57 per cent reported missing years of education.

ICRC highlighted that economic opportunities and jobs top young Syrians' list of what they needed most, followed by healthcare, education and psychological support.

It found that women have been particularly hard-hit economically, with almost 30 per cent in Syria reporting no income at all to support their family. Young Syrians in Lebanon report humanitarian assistance among their top needs.

In terms of impact on mental health, ICRC stated that in the past 12 months, young people in Syria have experienced sleep disorders (54 per cent), anxiety (73 per cent), depression (58 per cent), solitude (46 per cent), frustration (62 per cent) and distress (69 per cent) because of the conflict.

According to ICRC, in all three countries, young Syrians said access to psychological support was one of the things they needed most.

Despite everything, ICRC found that most young Syrians surveyed were optimistic about the future.

Their hopes and ambitions for the next decade are universally recognisable: safety and stability, a chance to have a family and a well-paid job, affordable and accessible healthcare and services, and an end to the upheaval and conflict, said ICRC.

-- BERNAMA